Method of creating illusions



March 23, 1943. L. B. PICKLEY 2,314,629

METHOD OF CREATING ILLUSIONS Filed Dec. 18, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l 150N400 153 P/c/(zn IN VENTOR.

BY AT ORNEY.

March 23, 1943.

L. B. PICKLEY METHOD OF CREATING ILLUSIONS Filed Dec. 18, 1939 3 Shoots-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March 23, 1943.

L. B. FFICKLEY METHOD OF CREATING ILLUSIONS Filed Dec. 18, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y [Eon/A00 19. p/c/azy .INVENTOR.

I I w I ATTOR EY.

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF CREATING I'LLUSIONS Leonard B. Pickley, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Walt Disney Productions, Los Angeles, Calif... a corporation of California Application D'ecember'18, 1939, Serial No. 309,787

10 Claims. (Cl. 88-16) This invention pertains to methods of procedure whereby various illusions may be produced, the methods being particularly applicable for use in the production of animated cartoons.

In the production of animated cartoons it isoften desirable to create the effect of water, reflections in water, the effect of moving smoke, ripples, etc. Since animated cartoon photoplays are made by successively photographing pictorial representations (which may either be complete on a single sheet or cell, or may comprise a plurality of cells each bearing a component of the completed scene), it is readily apparent that a great many separate cells must be drawn in order to produce a single ripple on the surface of a pond. A ripple has no definite outline and for this reason a ripple is extremely difficult to anieffects, when desired, being introduced during photography. In this manner, the preparation of the various cells (sheets of transparent mate-- rial on which the pictorial elements are painted) is expedited and more realistic effects may be obtained.

Generally stated, the methods of this invention comprise the introduction of a transparencyhaving an undulatory surface, between the camera and the pictorial representationsto be photographed. The undulations of the transparency may have a predetermined pattern and arrangement and be of a magnitude or size sufiicient to create distortion. The effects of flowing water, sunlight on water, ripples, gently rising and falling smoke, clouds, etc., can thus be readily obtained, these effects being of particular utility and value when the pictorial representations are in colors. and the completed film is in substantially natural colors.

- An object of the present invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide methods for creating illusions in the production of animated cartoons.

Another object is to provide methods whereby under-water effects, ripples, flowing streams, reflections of objects therein, smoke, clouds, etc., may be readily and realistically obtained.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and examples given hereinafter.

In order to facilitate understanding, reference" will be had to certain exemplary forms of the invention and to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1. illustrates. in perspective one form of arrangement which maybe. employed.

Fig. 2 is a reproduction of a completed scene obtained in the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another arrangement which may be employed in creating the effect of reflection in a flowing stream.

Fig. 4 is a pictorial representation of the completed scene as viewed by the camera.

Fig. 5 is a perspective representation of another arrangement whereby reflections in water 1 may be readily obtained.

Fig. 6 represents the result which is obtained by the arrangement of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 exemplifies one method of procedure in obtaining under-water effects.

Fig. 8 indicates the character of the effect obtained by the arrangement of Fig. 7.

As stated heretofore, it is customary in the art of animated cartoons to draw or paint various elements, characters and objects entering into a completed scene, upon separate sheets of cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, or other transparent medium. The number of objects or elements carried by one transparency or cell varies with the circumstances, the action to be depicted, and,

the like. Background elements are also employed, which background representations need not be painted upon transparent media. Moreover, certain of the cells may be in contact with one another whereas others may be positioned in separate planes spaced from planes occupied by other cells, the camera then photographing all of the cells simultaneously to record a completed picture containing the various complementary elements.

In producing the illusions forming the subject matter of this invention, a transparency is employed, which transparency is of unequal refractiveness. In other words, the transparency distinguishes from a sheet of glass having plane sides in that the distorting transparency of this invention refracts the light unequally and preferably in a predetermined varying manner so as to cause a desired distortion of pictorial representations viewed therethrough by the eye or lens of the camera. These various distorting transparencies may be made of glass having one plane surface and another undulatory surface obtained by grinding and polishing so as to produce a plurality of rounded ridges or bumps over such surface, the transparencies therefore having a plurality of thinner and thicker portions blending into one another in gentle curves. These undulations formed in the transparency are of such character that when used in the manner hereinafter described, a single undulation, whether it be a thicker or a thinner portion of the transparency. will not cause a reduction or enlargement of the entire pictorial representation before which it is positioned, but instead a distortion of a part of the pictorial representation is obtained without the formation of a complete aerial image of such representation.

The undulations thus formed in the surface of a sheet of glass may have a predetermined size and arrangement. In some instances the undulations may be in the form of substantially parallel long ridges which may either be straight or curved. In other instances, the undulations may be in the form of an over-all scattered pattern; the arrangement and extent of the undulations vary with the eifect desired. Another form of distorting transparencies may comprise a sheet of any suitable transparent; medium having applied thereto substantially transparent lacquers or varnishes in the form of ridges of desired thickness. Sodium silicate has been employed on glass and although fair result are obtainable, the resulting distorting transparencies are not altogether satisfactory since the sodium silicate composition has a tendency to peel off the glass with age.

By interposing the distorting transparencies between pictorial representations and the camera at a zone spaced from the film of said camera and from the pictorial representation, the representation may be suitably distorted. The amount of distortion may be varied somewhat by varying the spacing between the representation and the distorting r undulatory transparency. In animated cartoon work, photography is accomplished upon motion picture film by a succession of photographic exposures and a desired movement may be readily attained by moving the undulatory transparency between successive periods of exposure. Ordinarily, the movement will range from say /50" to about although this again will depend upon the effect which it is desired to produce. In some instances the transparency used is removed and a diiferent transparency introduced between successive exposures.

Those skilled in the art will probably more readily appreciate and understand the invention by considering certain specific examples employing the materials and methods hereof. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a method of obtaining the effect of watching a reflection in water. As shown in Fig. 2, which illustrates the final scene, a girl looks into a well whose side walls are shown at W. The surface of the water is indicated at I l. The reflection of the inner walls of the well in the water is indicated at Ill. The reflection of the girl peering over the edge of the well is indi-' cated. at l2. If a stone or a drop of water strikes the still surface ll of the water in the well, a ripple I3 is formed, outer ends of the ripple being indicated at M. These ripples further distort the reflections in the surface of the water in the well.

In obtaining this effect illustrated in Fig. 2, an arrangement of elements is employed as shown in Fig. 1. A cell 9 carries a painted reproduction or image of the walls of the well. The cell 12 positioned therebelow carries a painting of the girl l2. Another cell 9 carries a pictorial representation of the inner walls of the well, this cell being a replica of the cell 9. The cell l2 carrying the picture of the girl may be positioned beneath the cell 9, if desired. It is to be understood that the camera will be positioned above all of the cells 9, l2 and 8', these cells being within the field of view of the camera so as to permit simultaneous photography of the cells. Since the cells are made of a transparent material such as Celluloid, the painted portions of the cell 9 will mask certain portions of the lower cells while the unpainted or transparent portions permit the camera to photographically reproduce unmasked portions of the lower cells.

In order to create the eifect of substantially still water in the well, a transparency I5 is positioned between the pictorial representations carried by the cells 9 and I2, and the camera. The transparency l5 may be a sheet of glass provided with an undulatory surface of the character stated hereinbefore. As a result, the images carried by the cells I2 and 9' will be slightly distorted, creating the effect of reflections in the water within the well.

In order to create the ripple effect indicated at l3 and 14, another cell 16 may be provided, said cell being a transparency carrying thereon ridges l3 and I4 made of a transparent lacquer, these ridges causing a further distortion whenever they optically overlap the underlying representations carried by cells 9' and I2. The ridges l3 and I4 may be made by applying transparent lacquer to the cell I6. An eifect such as widening ripples may be painted upon the cell l6 if desired.

Between successive exposures the distorting transparency l5 may be slightly moved with respect to the stationary or fixed cells so as to impart a slight shimmering movement to the distortion, thereby effectively creating the illusion of water within the well.

It is to be understood that any desired cloud effect or other background may be positioned beneath the cell 9', the clouds, if any, being then distorted in the same manner as the representation of the girl carried by the cell l2.

It will be evident that in the event the girl maintains a fixed position for any length of time, it is not necessary to draw a plurality of separate representations of such girl, each representation being separately distorted by hand but instead a changing or varying distortion of such image is obtained by slight movement of the undulatory transparency 15. It is to be noted that the distortion referred to is an irregularity in the outlines or portions of the pictorial representation of the girl I2 carried by cell l2, and is not an enlargement or reduction of such pictorial representation. The word "distortion as used herein does not contemplate enlargement or reduction per se, but instead the production of an illusion of ripples, haze, shimmering reflections and the like, mentioned hereinbefore.

In the example illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 it is desired to produce a reflection in a mill stream, the finished picture including a mill 20, a tree 2 I, etc., on the banks of a stream 22. The pictorial representation is painted on a transparency, indicated at 23, a clear portion delineated by the banks of the stream being left in this transparency. Another cell 24 is provided, this cell having the mill 20, trees 2|, etc., in an inverted position, the mill, trees, etc., being drawn below a line 25 approximating in contour the projection of the bank of the mill stream 22. In

- order to produce the desired flowing stream effect,

a distortion transparency 23 is positioned between the .cell 23 and the cell 24. The distortion transparency 26 may be provided with a clear area, indicated at 21, and an undulatory area 28, the undulations in this area 28 being in the form of a plurality of curves.

When the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is pho tographed, a clear, undistorted image of the pictorial representations carried by cell 23 is obtained whereas the reflection (originally carried by cell 24) is now distorted by the distortion glass 26. By moving the distortion glass 26 from right to left between successive exposures, the mill stream 22 will apparently flow from the mill and a suitable and realistic distortion will be imparted to the reflections in such stream.

Instead of drawing the reflections in an inverted position as in Fig. 3, reflections may also be produced by the use of suitable reflecting surfaces or mirrors. For example, Fig. 5 shows an arrangement which may .be employed in obtaining an effect illlustrated in Fig. 6 whereina doe 29 is seen on the bank of a stream. The pictorial representation of the doe, foliage, etc., is shown on a cell 3&. A mirror or burnished piece of metal 3! is then positioned between the pictorial representation 30 and the camera, the mirror 3| lying in a plane at an angle to the cell 30 and to the camera axis so that the camera may observe the reflected image of the representations carried by the cell 38. A distortion glass 32 having a suitable undulatory surface indicated at 33 is then placed between the camera and the pictorial representation and mirror.

The distortion glass 32 is also provided with a transparent portion so that the pictorial representation 30 will not itself be distorted. In order to mask the generally sharp line of demarcation between the edge of the mirror 3| and the cell 30, a masking element 34 is positioned between the camera and the distortion glass 32. This masking element 34 includes the portion 35 which is painted so as to harmonize with the pictorial representation 38 and mask the line of demarcation or edge existing between the mirror 3! and the cell 30. When this arrangement is photographed from the right in Fig. 5, an illusion of a flowing stream is created, such flowing stream reflecting the doc 29 and other objects.

When it is desired to impart a more or less uniform overtone to all of the reflected portions, then the area 33 of the masking element 34 may be covered with a transparent lacquer of a desired tone or shade.

Although reference has been made to a single cell 30 on which the pictorial representations are depicted, it is to be understood that a number of difierent cells may be combined to make up the cell 30 or its equivalent. For example, the doe 29 may be painted on a separate cell whereas the general backgorund is on another cell immediately in back of the doe.

The methods of this invention may also be employed in creating under-water effects. For example, it may be desirable to depict an underwater scene with the observer stationed in a grotto and looking out towards a rocky wall some distance away. A completed scene of this character is shown in Fig. 8 and attention is called to the irregular and changing pattern of lines 40 along the ocean floor and to the shimmering lines 4| moving over the walls in the background. The shimmering eiiect of light and shadow which is observable on the ocean bottom and which is caused by refraction of light through the wavelets on the surface of the body of water is extremely dificult to paint or depict pictorially. In accordance with the method of this invention, however, a cell 42 depicting all of the elements of the scene is prepared and photographed. When an animated motion picture is to be made, a plurality of exposures of the cell 42 is made upon a strip of motion .picture film. This film i then wound back and re-exposed to a masking element 43 provided with opaque portions 44, 45 and the like adapted to protect certain desired elements, objects or areas of the pictorial representation originally depicted on the cell 42. For example, the foreground elements, such as seaweed and ferns 44' and 45', shown in Fig. 8, may be in the shadow close to the observer and not subject to the refracted light from the surface of the pool. These foreground elements will therefore not include any of the shimmering lights heretofore referred to. The middle ground and background, however, need be provided with a simulation of such light.

Beneath the'masking element 43 there is positioned a member 46 adapted to produce a pattern of light and dark areas, such light areas representing the high lights which it is desired to impart to the under-water scene or representation originally reproduced on the cell 42. The member 46 may comprise a sheet of black paper hav ing the high lights painted thereon in white or some other light-reflecting color. The member 46 may also comprise a sheet of opales-cent or translucent material (such as frosted glass) painted with a non-actinic opaque paint so as to leave translucent portions capable of being illuminated from the bottom.

During re-exposure, the previously partially exposed film is exposed to light reflected from or passing through the element 43, the masking element 43 preventing ice-exposure of desired areas of the emulsion. During such re-exposure, a distortion glass 41 whose surface is provided with undulations of an irregular pebbly character, is introduced between the masking element 43 and the member 46, the distortion glass 41 imparting additional distortion to the light areas of the member 46. Between periods of exposure (and at times during periods of exposure) the distortion glass 41 may be slightly moved so as to create the effect of light playing upon the bottom and sides of the underground grotto, thereby creating in the finished picture recorded upon the film a very realistic illusion of an under-water scene.

These various examples illustrate some of the methods and manners in which the present invention may be employed and those skilled in the art will readily adapt the teachings hereof to various problems and circumstances as they arise in the production of animated photoplays. All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1., A method of creating an illusion, in the production of animated cartoons, which comprises: photographically exposing an emulsion to a pictorial representation; and then re-exposine a part at least of the previously, exposed emulsion to a desired pattern of light and dark areas and distorting said pattern during such re-exposure by positioning a transparency having an undulatory surface between said. pattern and; emulsion, said undulations being. of. a, predetermined; size and arrangement and of a magnitude suflicient to create a desired distortion.

2. A method of creating an illusion, in the production of animated cartoons, which comprises: photographically exposing a photographic emulsion in a camera to a pictorial representation; and then re-exposing a part at least of the previously exposed emulsion to a desired pattern of light and dark areas and distorting said pattern during such re-exposure by positioning a trans-v parency having a repeatedly undulatory surface between said pattern and camera, said undulations being of a predetermined siz and arrangement and of a magnitude sufficient to create a desired distortion; and positioning a masking element between said pattern and camera to protect desired portions of the pictorial representation recorded on said emulsion against undesired re-exposure and modification.

3. A method of creating an illusion, in the production of animated cartoons, which comprises: photographically exposing a photographic film to a pictorial representation; and then re-exposing a part at least of the previously exposed film to a desired pattern of light and dark areas having desired relationship to the representation and distorting said pattern during such re-expcsure by positioning a transparency having a repeatedly undulatory surfac between said pattern and film, said undulations being of a predetermined size and arrangement and of a magnitude suflicient to create a desired distortion.

4. A method of creating illusions, in the production of animated cartoons, which comprises: positioning a pictorial representation within the field of view of a camera; positioning a reflector within the field of view and in a plane inclined to the representation and to the camera axis so as to reflect an imag of said representation toward said camera; positioning a transparency between said reflector and camera, said transparency being provided with a plurality of undulations On its surface, each of the undulations being of a magnitude sufiicient to create a perceptible distort-ion of a part only of a pictorial representation viewed 4 therethrough; and photographing said pictorial representation and reflected image simultaneously.

5. A method of creating illusions, in the production of animated cartoons, which comprises: positioning a pictorial representation within the field of view of a camera; positioning a reflector within the field of view and in a plane inclined to the representation and to the camera axis so as to reflect an image of said representation toward said camera; positioning a transparency between said reflector and camera, said transparency being provided with a plurality of undulations on its surface, each of the undulations being of a magnitude sufiicient to create a perceptible distortion of a part only of a pictorial representation viewed therethrough; positioning a masking element between the camera and said transparency, said masking element including a pictorial component adapted to mask the transition between the pictorial representation and its reflected image; and photographing said pictorial representation, reflected image and masking element simultaneously.

6. In a method of creating illusions in the production of animated cartoon photoplays, the steps of: positioning a pictorial representation within the field of view of a camera containing a photographic film, positioning within the field of view of th camera and between said representation and the camera a sheet of transparent material having a plurality of irregularly arranged thinner and thicker portions blending into one another in gentle curves whereby said sheet is provided with a plurality of irregularly arranged undulations, each of said undulations of said sheet being adapted to distort a portion of said representation; successively photographically exposing said film, moving said film between successive exposures, and changing the position of said sheet with respect to said representation between successive exposures whereby the illusion of ripples or shimmering is imparted to the photographic reproduction of the pictorial representation.

7. In a method of creating illusions in the production of animated cartoon hotoplays, the steps of: positioning a pictorial representation within the field of view of a camera containin a photographic film, positioning within the field of view of the camera and between said representation and the camera a sheet of transparent material having a plurality of irregularly arranged thinner and thicker portions blending into one another in gentle curves whereby said sheet is provided with a plurality of irregularly arranged undulations, each of said undulations of said sheet being adapted to distort a portion of said representation; successively photographically exposing said film, moving said film between successive exposures, and changing the distance between the said sheet and said representation between successive exposures.

8. In a method of creating illusions in the production of animated cartoon photoplays, the steps of positioning a plurality of pictorial representations in spaced relation to each other within the field of view of a camera containing a photographic film, each of said representations being carried by a transparent carrier; positioning, within the field of view of the camera and between th camera and one of said representations a sheet of transparent material having a plurality of irregularly arranged thinner and thicker portions blending into one another in gentle curves whereby said sheet is provided with a plurality of irregularly arranged undulations, each of said undulations of said sheet being adapted to distort a portion of one of said representations; successively photographically exposing said film, moving said film between successive exposures, and changing the position of the said sheet with respect to one of said representations between successive exposures.

9. In a method of creating illusions in the production of animated cartoon photoplays, the steps of: positioning a pictorial representation within the field of view of a camera containing a photographic film, positioning within the field of view of the camera and between said representation and the camera a sheet of transparent material having a plurality of undulations on its surface, each of the plurality of undulations being adapted to partially distort a part only of the pictorial representation; successively photographically exposing the film in said camera, moving the film between successive exposures, and changing the relative positions of said undulatory sheet and the pictorial representation between successive exposures 50 as to progressively change the location of portions of the pictorial representation partly distorted by each of 1 the undulations whereby the illusion of ripples or shimmering is imparted to the photographic reproduction of the pictorial representation.

10. A method of creating an illusion in the production of animated cartoons, which comprises: photographically enclosing an emulsion to a pictorial representation; and then i e-exposing a part at least of the previously exposed emulsion to a desired pattern of light and dark areas and distorting said pattern during such re-exposure by positioning a transparency having a surface provided with a plurality of undulations between said pattern and emulsion, such undulations being of a predetermined size and. arrangement and of a magnitude sufficient to partially distort portions of the pattern.

LEONARD B. PICKLEY. 

